Blackbelt Voices

What does it mean for a city to believe in itself? Sinovia Mayfield has spent a decade as the human behind Rocktown Realness , a hyperlocal civic platform built for action and powered by love for Little Rock, Arkansas. She sees her role not as the face of the platform but as its stage manager, turning the spotlight on a city whose story is often flattened by headlines and outside assumptions. In t...

Recorded inside the Central Arkansas Library System’s newly renovated Main Library in downtown Little Rock, hosts Adena White and Kara Wilkins sit down with CALS executive director Nate Coulter, board president Dr. Karama Neal, and chief communications and community engagement officer Tameka Lee to talk about the library’s transformation, its impact on the community, and the enduring power of publ...

Choosing Arkansas with Dr. Karama Neal shares stories of those who chose Arkansas as their home. In this episode, Dr. Neal talks to Shamim Okolloh. Shamim was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and came to the U.S. at age 19 for college. Unsure about staying or returning home, she moved to Little Rock to attend the Clinton School of Public Service. She fell in love with the state and has found a supportive c...

Choosing Arkansas with Dr. Karama Neal shares stories of those who chose Arkansas as their home. In this episode, Dr. Neal talks to Jean Block, the CEO of the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority.   We hope these conversations inspire you to learn more about professional, educational, social and other opportunities in Arkansas, and soon, choose Arkansas for yourself!  Send us feedback at choosi...

Choosing Arkansas with Dr. Karama Neal shares stories of those who chose Arkansas as their home. We want to help you make the Natural State your natural choice. On today's episode, we talk to Samantha Evans about what brought her back to her home state after living away for many years.  We hope these conversations inspire you to learn more about professional, educational, social and other opportun...

Dr. Karama Neal, principal of Neal Firm, aspires to help Arkansas achieve its full potential as a place where Black people can thrive. Achieving this potential requires not only the engagement of current Black Arkansans but also the economic, social, and political involvement of Black people with ties to the state — whether it's through kinship, friendship, business, or general interest. Facilitat...

This is part two of our dive into urban agriculture. We’re talking about how Black farmers and growers are creating solutions to the lack of healthy food options in their communities. Be sure to listen to Episode 41 with Leroi Emerson, who serves on the board for Urban Patchwork. In this episode, we’re talking to Gabriyel El-Bey, the owner and operator of Turtle Island in Little Rock, Arkansas, wh...

This two-part episode of the Blackbelt podcast explores how Urban Patchwork, a Little Rock-based nonprofit network of farmers and backyard gardeners, aims to build a sustainable local food economy and promote interdependence among residents. In part one, we hear from LeRoi Emerson, a board member for Urban Patchwork. He joins host Adena White to talk about his passion for farming and the organizat...

We're back in the saddle! In this episode, Adena and Kara discuss the relaunch of Blackbelt Voices as a platform for authentic storytelling. After completing a Social Impact Storytelling program at Georgetown University and a fellowship with Solutions Journalism Network, Adena has come back with fresh ideas of how Blackbelt Voices can emphasize the importance of authenticity, belonging, and connec...

Adena and Kara talk to writer and self-proclaimed Wypipologist   Michael Harriot . The South Carolina native is well known for his wit, cultural commentary, and gift of mixing humor and historical context. In this episode, Michael breaks down the discipline of Wypipology, Black humor, and the story behind his coining of the phrase "invited to the cookout." (Yes, he's the one who came up with it.)...

La'Twana Scott, the owner of Sweet Mama T's in El Dorado, Arkansas, developed a reputation as a great cook at an early age. The El Dorado native enjoys cooking for people and got her start from helping her mom as a child.  Eventually, with the help of Southern Bancorp, Scott found the perfect location for her restaurant.  Find out more about Sweet Mama T's by visiting her Facebook page .  Season 3...

On episode 37 of Blackbelt Voices, we continue our conversation about Black food, this time focusing on barbecue. Guest Michael “Mike D” De Los Santos of North Carolina walks us through his journey of becoming an expert on the topic, which eventually led to him creating his own sauces and rubs and selling through his company, Mike D ’s.  Mike’s journey to becoming a small business owner has uplift...

In episode 36 of Blackbelt Voices, Adena and Kara continue the conversation about Black food culture – this time from an agricultural angle. Our guest, Gerald Harris, along with his partners Derek Beasley and Gabrielle E.W. Carter (who was featured in the Netflix series High on the Hog  as well as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal )started Tall Grass Food Box , a community-supported a...

We’re starting a new series of episodes about Black Food Culture, which is a very broad topic to tackle. It can be fun, but it is also deep. Ashante Reese, Ph. D. is a writer, teacher, and anthropologist who works at the intersection of critical food studies and Black geographies. Her latest book, “ Black Food Matters: Racial Justice in the Wake of Food Justice , enters two conversations at once:...

Jennifer Williams of Cleveland, Mississippi, always knew she wanted to be a teacher. When she was a girl, her favorite game was playing school. Williams is teaching future teachers at the Cleveland Career Development and Technology Center. Once a week, her students get to serve as teacher's assistants, giving them a realistic feel of what it could be like to run a classroom. The center offers a pr...

On episode 33 of the Blackbelt Voices podcast, we are continuing our discussion on the Cost of Racism. This week we’re focused on building community wealth with Tim Lampkin , the CEO and founder of Higher Purpose Co. , a  501(c)(3) economic justice nonprofit that supports and encourages ownership of financial, cultural, and political power in Black communities.   Tim Lampkin, for about as long as...

Cheryl Hampton grew up on a farm in Marianna on the same property where her great-great-grandfather lived. He grew lots of vegetables in his garden including sweet potatoes, greens, and okra. Cheryl still lives and gardens on the property today. When her nieces and nephews come to visit she shows them everything she knows, and they’re always excited to learn.  https://blackbeltvoices.com/2021/12/2...

Episode 31 of the Blackbelt Voices podcast begins a new series of episodes called the Cost of Racism. During the next month, we’ll dive into the ideas of economic equity and building wealth for Black communities. Today’s guest is Darrin Williams, CEO of Southern Bancorp. Williams, who studied law and practiced as a lawyer for many years, wanted to help people understand money, climb out of poverty...

This Turn to Your Neighbor segment features Amanda Hunter, a registered nurse who lives in Central Arkansas. Amanda is very interested in exploring her family tree. She wanted to see how far she could go back into her family’s history and found  through her journey a valuable perspective she applies directly to her own life.  Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Sout...

Happy Thanksgiving, Blackbelt Voices fam. In this week’s episode we’re talking about genealogy. It is part of the “Preserving our History” series. For Nicka Sewell-Smith , learning about her family history is much more than a hobby. Nicka has more than 20 years of experience as a genealogist and has learned so much about not only her own family, but also American History. We think you’ll enjoy lis...

The Ozark Foothills African-American History Museum would not have been possible without the work of   Albessie Thompson,  the subject of this Turn to Your Neighbor segment. Born and raised in Twin Groves, Arkansas, Thompson has worked tirelessly for the past 30 years to preserve the history of her hometown. We continue the "Preserving Our History" series with a closer look at this museum in Twin...

Blackbelt Voices continues its focus on “Preserving our History” with a closer look at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center , a 35,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art museum on 9th Street in Little Rock. The museum, which is a part of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, became accredited by the American Alliance of Museums in April 2020. Quantia Fletcher was recently named director of the museum. Sh...

American Reckoning is a component of PBS FRONTLINE's Un(re)solved multi-platform initiative investigating unsolved murders that happened in the Civil Rights Era.  We sat down with filmmakers Yoruba Richen and Brad Lichtenstein who are working on a documentary about the events surrounding the 1967 murder of Wharlest Jackson Sr. in Natchez, Mississippi. Jackson is one of 150 cold case killings broug...

Blackbelt Voices is coming back for our third season in mid-October. We can’t wait for you to hear from our fantastic guests. They’re telling stories from and about Black folks down South that honor our history; celebrate our culture; and shape our future. Look for new episodes beginning next week. If you haven’t already, be sure to follow or subscribe to the Blackbelt Voices podcast on Apple Podc...

In this episode, Adena and Kara talk to Kristy Carter, author and principal investigator of a newly released study about women of color business owners and entrepreneurs in Arkansas. The research was conducted by the University of Central Arkansas and the report commissioned by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas. Women of color open businesses at extraordinary rates. The qualitative study explores...